Progress

Progress

Penn State has been successful in its continued implementation of initiatives undertaken in response to the recommendations of the Freeh Report, according to the 10th quarterly report tracking Penn State's progress in meeting the goals of the Athletics Integrity Agreement (AIA). In issuing the report Sen. George Mitchell, who was named in 2012 by the NCAA as the independent monitor for Penn State to oversee the AIA, announced he would be withdrawing from the position for personal reasons unrelated to Penn State.

By a unanimous vote, the Penn State Board of Trustees today (Jan. 16) approved the terms of a proposed settlement of the lawsuit relating to the Endowment Act. According to the settlement, the July 2012 Consent Decree between Penn State and the NCAA has been dissolved, and all punitive sanctions eliminated.

Penn State is continuing to successfully carry forward initiatives launched in response to the recommendations of the Freeh Report, according to the ninth quarterly report tracking Penn State's progress in meeting the goals of the Athletics Integrity Agreement (AIA) signed by Penn State, the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference.

Near the end of today's (Nov. 14) Board of Trustees meeting, a proposal to address information in emails made public over the last two weeks related to Sen. Jake Corman's litigation involving the NCAA was tabled by a 14-10 vote. The board will address the resolution, introduced by trustee Anthony Lubrano, with legal counsel in an executive session tied to its January 2015 meeting.

The Penn State Board of Trustees today (Oct. 28) approved a resolution put forth by Vice Chair Kathleen Casey calling for the board to continue to monitor pending or future criminal and civil, governmental and administrative proceedings that may shed light on the Freeh Report’s findings. According to the resolution, the board will determine whether any action is “appropriate and in the best interests of the University” when all such investigations have concluded. The vote on the resolution was 17 for, 8 against, and 1 vote to abstain.

Penn State has published the latest update to its ongoing work on policies, training, communications, governance, safety, security, compliance and a host of other matters -- all aimed at improving University operations, mitigating risk and maintaining a leadership role in higher education. To view the report, go here: http://www.psu.edu/ur/2014/Phase_II_update_Aug_2014.pdf.

The NCAA Executive Committee has modified the Penn State football bowl and scholarship limitations previously imposed by the consent decree between the University and the NCAA. The action comes following today’s release of another positive annual report and recommendations by Sen. George Mitchell, the independent, third-party athletics integrity monitor for Penn State. The Penn State football team will be eligible for a bowl game beginning this season, and scholarship limitations will be restored to the full complement of 85 beginning in 2015.

Penn State has continued to make progress on initiatives undertaken in response to recommendations made in the Freeh Report, according to the latest quarterly report tracking Penn State's progress in meeting the goals of the Athletics Integrity Agreement (AIA) signed by Penn State, the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference.

For the second consecutive year, Big Ten Conference officials have approved the equal distribution of what would have been Penn State’s share of football bowl game revenues to 2013-14 Big Ten member universities. Penn State’s portion of the funds will go to two local child-focused organizations again this year to further promote their missions.

Most people know that child abuse is a major issue in the United States, but according to Prevent Child Abuse America CEO and President James Hmurovich, there is no shared vision that everyone can work toward. However, that vision can be as simple as ensuring that “every child lives a happy and healthy life,” he said during a recent visit to Penn State's University Park campus to share his national perspective on this complex issue.